CAITLYN S. NEVILLE

Entering college, I was sure I was going to be a veterinarian. After a freshman course load of chemistry, biology, calculus, Mandarin, and English, however, I discovered I hated every class but one: English. While my love for animals (particularly my dogs Maggie and Cooper and my horse Jax) continues to this day, I am grateful and proud that I overcame my fear of failure to follow my academic passions into the fields of literature, art, and environmentalism.

 

As it turns out, changing my major was the easy part. In late June of my first ever internship, I was asked to come up with a template design and 31 tips for saving plastic — one for every day of July. I was emailed something called a "brand guide" (I had never heard of one before), and figured that seemed like a good place to start. Before I knew it, my first designs began to take shape. Just a few weeks later, I could hardly believe my eyes when the first graphic went up on Instagram. I really made that? And 48,000 people could see it in their feed?? It felt like nothing I had ever experienced before.

 

Almost two years later, I've had the amazing opportunity to try, fail, grow, and ultimately create meaningful designs for nonprofits, companies, and exhibitions. I've learned when to push designs further, like in my data visualization of National Park visits, and when to simplify initial concepts, like in the brand design for My Path. Seeking criticism from professors and classmates like in Darvanda, my first major architectural project, has helped me understand ways to improve while working with professional teams on projects like Circle Careers and Circle University opened my eyes to the ways in which the whole can be greater than the sum of its parts.

 

Through every moment of growth, I've only come to love designing that much more. I'm constantly learning from other designers, dreaming about my next projects, and learning new ways to express ideas through art. You can find a few snapshots of my favorite personal pieces below or by following my Instagram — an ever growing collection of painting, photography, and illustration. Digital, print, social media, and other professional design projects can be found in my portfolio, or you can contact me directly to get in touch about my work. I'd love to hear from you!